picklish

what i find weird about the sex/gender defintion problem is that it seems that trans folk are essentialist about gender, and are suggesting that there are set gender roles for men and women (which is why they feel they are in the wrong body, have the wrong gender - that there is /something/ it is to be, to be a man or woman), but this seems at odds with the concept of gender-as-a-construct, gender fluidity etc. I can't really get my head around that aspect.

When DB walks into the dressing room

I sometimes think that the SNP recalling their MPs from Westminster would be a useful tactic in highlighting the problem that Westminster is the de facto English parliament, and as such an English referendum on independence would not need Scottish approval, whilst conversely a Scottish referendum requires English votes to be attained. They could donate the ~£5m yearly total MPs income saved to foodbanks for publicity. I'm not entirely sure what the benefit of sending SNP MPs to Westminster is, other than to take part in the circus? I don't understand how using the General Election as a referendum would work - would the SNP refuse all debates where they would be asked the usual questions? I assume there is some planning on this, considering the SC decision wasn't unexpected.

You don't want to start a new country with a failed state on your border. We would require England to join the USA in a Puerto Rico type arrangement first. Wales can do as they wish.

We're going to party like it's 1992* *eventually

There's simply so many more NHS hospitals than private clinics, so even if everyone left private to NHS, it wouldn't fill the gaps. The specialisation which I work in has a department in at least one NHS hospital in every major city in the UK. But there's only a handful of private clinics covering this - some places where unqualified people have set up practices and the lack of regulatory oversight has made it difficult to get them shut down. (and of course bank staff hours will work for some people's priorities - it did for me)

I've worked in the private healthcare sector (multiple different clinics/hospitals in London) and my experience of it is that it's lipstick on a pig. The equipment is often old and ex-NHS, as private places don't have the same economies of scale. The staff aren't necessarily qualified, and the turn over is like McDonalds. The pay was often bank staff, so the morale was terrible, and people would leave to join the NHS whenever they could. However, they spend money on nice rooms and receptions, make sure they have good looking receptionists and have time to not rush patients. It's only the quality of healthcare that's worse, but who needs to worry about that when you get your own room and free coffee?

The only football that's exciting these days is internationals

I know it's the equivalent of going on Follow Follow for a 2-minute hate, but the tears and snotters on Guido Fawkes comments are pretty funny. Through the looking glass stuff

If you aren't bothered by the data on the PC, I would just do a fresh install, by putting this https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10 on a usb and having it plugged in before you switch on the machine should let you reinstall

Although I think we should be independent, that we would undoubtedly be better off politically, and potentially better of economically, it seems that no one has any sort of plan how to get there. The leveling of accusations that the SNP are anti-independence is ridiculous, but the reason that they are made is because there's no roadmap of how to become independent. Westminster simply says no, and can and will continue saying no, whoever's in charge. Even if the court decides that MSPs have the power to pass an independence referendum bill, it will be considered advisory and Westminster will simply say "thanks for your input, but now is not the time." Or come out with some stuff about turnout, or supermajority, or legislative competence, or whatever it pleases. What's more likely is that the SG will be barred from holding one, or the court decides it's not the time for it to decide. There's simply no way out of the bind without much more radical action. But a wildcat referendum probably wouldn't get international support. UDI isn't suitable when the polls are so split. So I've no idea what kind of radical action they could take. I'm planning to start a party that's against independence because we'd end up with a failed state on our southern border

no mention of the rest Going by his trip to NI, King Chick is a Shinner anyway

Anyone keep score of total territorial loss over course of her reign, and how it compares to previous incumbents?

Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro for the craic

Give it 10 years and you can have a rivalry with Cove, maybe over oil v renewables?

Have the people of Scotland democratically elect their own government, or ride on the political coat tails of the type of aristocrat-worshiping Thatcherite that thinks you are a smelly sock, an alcoholic and a junkie who takes all their tax money. Boot licking servility, that's your position, own it.

We can use their currency

Monochrome Maureen's 0-1 Technicolour Terrors Helen's alright but she's no saint

Mochrie to run riot, GMS to suffer for nostalgia & melancholy, a red card each, 1-1

Dundee Barry spotted buying a new jotter

Thought Dundee would have common ground with Hearts, both being teams that no other fan has ever had a soft spot for. Not hated as such, just unlikeable, like a soggy fish supper that's spent too long in the oil

Farmhand fans of the cricket-club spin-off side weirdly nervous and expecting their team not to turn up. United support to roar their way to a 0-0 with 3 shots on target between the teams

Excelled

Gonna spreadsheet the bed for this one. Fearing brackets

The West Highland Free Press is the best local paper